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30.7.19

33 weeks pregnant! Isn't that crazy? I feel like it was two months ago when I peed on a stick and saw that little positive sign. But that was actually in the beginning of January! So here I am now seven weeks away from meeting our little girl. This pregnancy has been very different from my pregnancy with Julien. I felt great from day one and was doing spin classes twice a week until 36 weeks. This pregnancy on the other hand, it started out rough! I was feeling violently hungover on a daily basis for 12-13 weeks accompanied by migraines, which usually resulted in... well, I'll spare you the gory details. Aside from that horrible first trimester, I also have a 30+ pound two year old who makes me chase him endlessly and wants to be carried 15 times a day. Circumstances are definitely different this time around! However, I'm feeling great and I wanted to share with you one of the major reasons as to why that is.

I started going to West End Mamas back in May. It is the greatest resource for all things pre and post baby (they even have services for your fertility journey!!). It's a wellness clinic that focuses on the well being of a mama. West End Mamas offer prenatal and postnatal care for moms and moms-to-be. Everyone's pregnancy is different and they are dedicated to making your journey the best it can possibly be for you. They offer an amazing amount of services and classes from acupuncture, pelvic floor physiotherapy, chiropractic care, doula services, breastfeeding support, counselling and so much more. And let me tell you, I've been reaping the benefits!

I was never much of a yoga person, but I started feeling very tight and a bit uncomfortable in my body, to be honest. So I went in for a prenatal yoga class at the Bloor West Village location and it was just what I needed. Like one of those moments you didn't realize what you needed, but then you got it and it felt oh so good. When I started getting lower back pain, I decided to see Dr. Roy at the York Region location for chiropractic care. I have to stress to you that I had never done anything like this; never had any chiro, physio, acupuncture, nothing of that nature. She quickly came to the realization that my pelvis was uneven and was the cause of my back pain and it was all on the up and up from there. I've also received the best massages of my life at West End Mamas. The type where you do not want to get up fro the table when your 60 or 90 minutes is over. It's amazing how good you feel once you let professionals do what they do.

As moms and moms-to-be, the greatest thing you can do for yourself and for your family is to take care of you. I can't recommend West End Mamas enough! If you are in the Greater Toronto Area, you must check them out. They have two locations, one on Bloor West and one in York Region (see details here). They also have an amazing online booking system which makes life just a little easier. Pregnancy is a beautiful process, but there are definitely some not so fun things that come with it. So why not make that process just a little more joyful, pain free, and stress free? Check out all West End Mamas has to offer here!

7.1.19

Happy New Year, lovelies! We are one week into 2019 and so far so good.. .but isn't it always? Mid February is when I usually start to kick myself for not staying on track with my goals. Usually my new years resolutions consist of losing weight, working out, losing more weight, fit into a smaller size, and then lose some extra weight. It's all quite monotonous really, and I'm no longer interested in that. I'm choosing to be kinder to myself. It's exhausting to always find something to pick at. Why are we our worst critics? This year, I've decided to focus on more positive things.

Be less wasteful. We're bad at leftovers. We're even bad at actually cooking all the healthy stuff I buy and plan on making. The reality is that Uber Eats makes life too easy while simultaneously destroying our insdes and dwindling our bank account. So we've had to switch things up a bit to make sure we eat all the food in the fridge. One tip that's been helping a lot is having pita wraps around to stuff leftover meat and/or veggies, put some hummus or some salad dressing and voila. Another is cutting up veggies in bulk and storing them in the fridge so that they are easy to pull out to cook or easy to throw on a plate with a protein. So no more food in the bin, because that's just a disgusting privilege no one should have!

Be more mindful of what goes into my body. Instead of focusing on the scale, which really doesn't reflect what's going on inside, I'm focusing on what I'm feeding my body. I have a weak, weak spot for ginger ale; I could have it five times a day if I had a 2L in my fridge. I also have an insane sweet tooth. I don't like chocolate very much, but any type of candy has me wrapped around its finger. So reducing those two things is going to be difficult, it's already proven to be, but I will continue to do my best. Even beyond refined sugar, there are so many questionable ingredients in all the food we consume. Cooking at home with fresh, local and organic ingredients is something I can control. There's really no going back on this commitment.

Be more present. We live in a world today where it's really hard to unplug from all the screens in our lives. We're always checking up on something online or capturing what we're doing for the gram. Putting my phone down and being more present in the moment is a priority. Since it really is a serious addiction, I'm starting with small steps like keeping my phone at a walking distance when home with Julien and reading a book in bed instead of scrolling through Instagram.

Get shit done now. I remember hearing about this book or method a few months back, about not putting off things that take five to ten minutes. So whether the dishes need to get done, or putting laundry away, returning a call, getting gas, etc., if it takes you less than ten minutes, simply do it then and get it over with. It's so easy to get overwhelmed at the end of a long day or on Saturday morning when it's time to clean the house. Things go so much quicker and you get more time to relax. Ahh... relaxation. We can't always be relaxed but I don't know anyone who needs extra stress in their day to day life.

Those are the four major ones for me. I'd love to know what some of you resolutions are! Also, please remember that the new year is fresh time to start new commitments and journeys, but any given day, any given moment is a great time to start as well!

18.12.18

I think we can all agree that the wild notion that we can't wear white after Labor Day is and has been dead for years now. I mean, who even invented that? It's so archaic. Fashion has evolved so much that, in my opinion, there are no rules. I'm all about stretching your dollar, which in turn means stretching your cost per wear on anything you can. So here are my tips on how to keep wearing your favourite pair of white denim through the winter months.

1. It's all in the colours.Even though I'm wearing white jeans here, the colour palette is still very much fall/winter with the camel tones. Try to warm up the white with creams, beiges, browns and camels, or stick with those rich and deep jewel tones. For example, this look would work just as well with a beige top and a burgundy blazer.

2. Texture, texture, texture! Pairing white with cable knits, tweed, cashmere or wool is a good way to go. Layering textures is also a great way to winterize white. When doing this, I would still stick to neutrals or jewel tones. Think white jeans, grey cable knit turtleneck, and a black wool coat. Or even white jeans with a nice hunter green pea coat with a beige knit underneath.

3. Stay structured! Speaking of coats, this next one is important. I've said this time and time again; nobody can argue with a killer 'omg this was made for you' fit. A well-fitting structured, long wool coat is something every woman needs in her closet. It can be a pattern (like plaid) or a solid, but bottom line is you have to feel freaking fabulous in it. I think it's safe to say that any structured long-line wool coat would pair beautifully with white denim. This is also where you could pull off a super chic monochromatic look with a beige coat.

4. Accessorize! Throw on that winter gear. Whether it's a beanie or a fedora, I find that a hat brings the chic factor to most looks during the fall and winter months. Boots are another great way to help make white appropriate. You can tuck them into thigh high boots or have the hem sit right at the ankle, just above the top of your booties. White jeans tucked into some brown leather boots and a camel colored rancher hat - ultimate level of chic! If you wanna go more for the cozy vibe, a plaid blanket scarf and a pom-pom beanie is definitely the way to go.

I hope you find these tips helpful. I'd love to know if you try any of them! And if you're looking for skinny jeans, take a look here!